The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06
Srecia1 Contributors.
OUR SOCIAL RELATIONS.
BY BELLE L. GoRTON.
(Chicago.)

(Chicago.)
What shall be my bearing to the
world of humanity about me, is the
question which each individual in a
great city puts to himself. In village
community, where everybody knows
everyone else, the question is quietly
and effectuaIly settled without con
scious volition on the part Of the indi-
vidual. Not SO in great metropolis,
where one may or may not acknowledge
his next door neighbor, as he chooses.
And frequently, we grieve to say, the
latter is the common course pursued,
and perhaps with most laudable mo.
tive. Your friend will argue to you,
or we will argue to ourselves: 81 will
have the best people for friends or I
will have none. My neighhors are
beneath me; cannot mingle with those
of my own social station; hence 1 will
remain aloof from all. Besides, how
do 1 know what these strangers about
me may be? They are, for aught !
know, the dregs of humanity"
But we look soberly at these state.
ments and mournfully confess to our
selves that they are but a tissue of
errors. By s'the best" we usually
mean the best as the world ranks them,
according to social standing or wealth;
not necessarily the best morally or even
Intellectually. That was thrilling ut.
terance of Burns:
"The rank is but the guinea's stamp
The mans the gowd for a. that"
Yet, even while we applaud his fine in
dependence, we set up for ourselves
false estimates.
1 do not know you. What right, then,
have to affirm, though your dress be
shabby, your bearing and manners in
ferior, your surroundings mean, that
you do not possess the fine character
flavor of true nobilityp How can
know but that your soul may be even
superior to my own, and similarly
bound down by circumstances? Com
mon humanity, at least, demands that
shall investigate for myself the merits
of my neighbor and then may justly
repel or encourage friendship accord
ingly.
"The dregs of humanityl" What a
world of sad meaning is couched in
these few simple words, and what a
weight of contempt they imply on the
part of one who gives them utterance.
Did the Christ, let US ask ourselves,
ever find place in his tender heart for
those harsh utterances, or did he look
with divine pity upon the criminal and
the outcast2 All, he was moved with
infinite compassion, as we should be,
could we but think on the mournful
history Of cause and effect reflected in
the poor, mean, degraded lives about
us. Admit your neighbor is low, but
how came he SOP How can you tell
from what divine height he fell, because
evil influences were too strong for him.
Or suppose him to be vicious, how
many sins from the third and fourth
generations previous have descended
upon his defenseless headp Exchange
your gifts of heredity, your Christian
home, your refining influences of books
and pictures for his poor bare existence
and what would you be? All, we who
have been more fortunately placed have
duty toward the "dregs of humanity"
if there be such about us. We are to
lift them up, to be rain and sunshine
to their poor crushed souls and degrad-
ed lives; else, how shall they be helped
who are powerless to help themselves?
There is no evil deed under heaven
which, once committed, does not react
upon ourselves with terribly baneful
effects. 81 will remain aloof," we have
said to ourselves and at once the soul
which had just begun to bud and bloom
begins to wither. Life grows small
and mean, limited to the narrow, petty
range of self; discomfort iourishes like
some rank weed and embitters each
simplest duty; aye, each pleasure of
life. We are not what we should be-
we feel it profoundly, and naturally;
we blame, not ourselves, but an evil
fate which has endowed us neither with
wealth, with opportunity for doing
good, nor with power to right the in
Vulnerable wrongs of life. Meanwhile,
the father in the next house but one, is
laboring hard to keep the wolf from